Residents of Khomasdal and Otjomuise have been urged to strengthen household and community disaster preparedness as Windhoek commemorates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Held at Otjomuise Sports Field under the theme "Resilience Starts at Home," the event brought together community members and learners for performances and safety awareness activities.
The City's Fire Brigade, City Police, NamPower, and other institutions also provided educational displays on disaster prevention, including fire safety.
Speaking on behalf of Windhoek Mayor Sakaria Uunona, Deputy Mayor Nangula Amutenya said building resilience requires collective responsibility and active community participation.
“While the government has a critical leadership role to play, resilience cannot be built by institutions alone. It requires the active participation of every sector of society. We therefore call upon communities to remain vigilant and informed, businesses to invest in resilient infrastructure, development partners to support local resilience initiatives, and all residents to embrace a culture of preparedness and responsibility. The safety of our city begins in our homes, extends to our neighborhoods, and ultimately shapes the resilience of our nation.”
United Nations Resident Coordinator in Namibia, Hopolang Phororo, warned that climate change could bring hotter and drier conditions during the 2026/27 rainfall season, threatening agriculture, water security, and livelihoods.
"Forecasts, climate information, and risk analysis only save lives when they are translated into action by governments, institutions, communities, and households. So that means each one of us does have a responsibility. Early warning must lead to early action. That is the promise behind the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative, and it is a principle that is relevant for Namibia today. The good news is that Namibia is making progress, continuing to strengthen its disaster risk management systems and institutions. Through the National Development Plan Number 6, Namibia recognises disaster recovery and resilience building as critical enablers of sustainable development. This reflects an important understanding that development progress must be protected against increasingly frequent climate and disaster risks.”
Phororo called for early action based on weather forecasts and warning systems to reduce disaster risks and protect lives.
The commemoration highlighted the importance of household preparedness, informed communities, and cooperation in building safer, more resilient neighbourhoods.